Fountain structure



Nov.

A. A; SAUL FOUNTAIN STRUCTURE Filed April 20, 1961 Aug u l t z r zul w wUnited States Patent 3,009,417 FOUNTAIN STRUCTURE August A. Saul, RossTownship, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Miller Printing MachineryCo., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 20, 1961,Ser. No. 104,279 8 Claims. (Cl. 101-148) This invention relates tofountain structure for use in presses and particularly fountainstructure especially adapted for the water fountain in presses employingwater fountains such as offset lithographic presses.

In presses employing water fountains it is important to keep the watersupply as clean as possible and free from particles of ink and otherforeign matter. The fountain roll dips into the water in the fountainand is partially disposed above the level of the surface of the body ofWater in the fountain and is adapted to be rotated in a predetermineddirection whereby to take water from one side of the fountain anddeliver it toward the opposite side of the fountain. The water isdelivered to a vibrator or other roll which either directly or throughan intermediate roll or rolls delivers it to the water form roller orrollers. Particles of ink are picked up by the water form rollers andwork their way back to the water fountain roll and contaminate the waterin the fountain and tend to create an emulsion which is relatively heavyadjacent the ends of the water fountain roll and relatively lightadjacent the center of the Water fountain roll. It is recognized thatthe creation .of the emulsion cannot be entirely eliminated but it isdesirable that it be minimized so far as possible and to the extent thatit cannot be eliminated made uniform from end to end of the waterfountain roll.

The delivery of water by the water fountain roll from one side of thewater fountain causes a tendency of the body of water in the fountain tocirculate back from the opposite side mainly around the ends of thewater fountain roller. Particles of ink and other foreign matter tend tofloat atop the body of water in the water fountain. I have discoveredthat these phenomena can be taken advantage of in a comparatively simpleway to trap and substantially segregate foreign particles in the endportions of the fountain to prevent their circulating and be ingdelivered with the water.

While my fountain structure is especially adapted for water fountains itis conceivable that on occasions it would have utility in ink fountains,particularly in presses in which the viscosity of the ink is low.

I provide fountain structure comprising a receptacle, a roll dippinginto liquid in the receptacle but partially disposed above the level ofthe surface of the body of liquid in the receptacle and adapted to berotated in a predetermined direction whereby to take liquid from oneside of the receptacle and deliver it toward the opposite side of thereceptacle causing a tendency of the body of liquid in the receptacle tocirculate back from the second mentioned side of the receptacle to thefirst mentioned side of the receptacle and baflle means in juxtapositionto the ends of the roll inhibiting such circulation back past the endsof the roll at the surface of the body of liquid in the receptacle whilepermitting such circulation back past the ends of the roll substantionbelow the surface of the body of liquid in the receptacle whereby totrap between the respective baffle means in juxtaposition to the ends ofthe roll and the respective adjacent ends of the receptacle particles offoreign matter floating on the surface of the body of liquid in thereceptacle.

In my fountain structure the baflle means fit closely to the receptacleWall at the first mentioned side of the receptacle as above referred toand are spaced from the receptacle wall at the second mentioned side ofthe receptacle. The baffle means normally extend above the level of thesurface of the body of liquid in the receptacle and at least portionsthereof are spaced from the bottom of the receptacle to allow subsurfacecirculation of liquid thereunder. Sealing means may be provided sealingthe baflle means to the inner surface of the receptacle wall at thefirst mentioned side of the receptacle, this provision being importantto prevent passage of foreign particles past the baflle means intoposition to be picked up by the water fountain roll.

The battle means may be provided with slots extending upwardly from thebottom thereof adjacent one end thereof adapted to receive a portion ofthe receptacle wall at the first mentioned side of the receptaclewhereby the baffle means are mounted on the receptacle wall. The slotsenable the bafile means to be hung over the receptacle wall at the firstmentioned side of the receptacle, and resilient elements are preferablyattached to the baffle means and extend through the slots to seal thebafille means to the inner surface of the wall, the resilient elementsalso serving to urge the bafiie means toward the roll.

The roll may be covered with a fabric sleeve and the ends of the fabricsleeve at the ends of the roll are preferably in turn covered withmembers which cooperate with the baffle means similarly to the roll endswhen the roll is not covered with a fabric sleeve. The roll ispreferably provided with shafts at its ends, the shafts passing throughthe last mentioned members, and means being provided for maintainingsuch members in place firmly against the fabric covered roll ends.

Other detail, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of certain present preferredembodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferredembodiments of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is an isometric view ofwater fountain structure which may be used for example in an offsetlithographic press;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the fountain structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the lineIII-III of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view ofa modified construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a waterfountain in the form of a shallow rectangular pan or receptacle 2 inwhich is disposed a water fountain roll 3. The water fountain roll 3dips into the body of water 4 in the fountain but is partially disposedabove the level of the surface of the body of water in the fountain asshown. The roll 3 has shafts 5 at its ends which are adapted to bemounted in suitable bearings in conventional manner, and the roll isadapted to be rotated in the direction of the arrow A either by contactwith another roll or by being driven through one of its shafts 5. Themeans for mounting and rotating the water fountain roll 3 may beconventional and hence are not shown.

Rotation of the roll 3 in the direction of the arrow A causes water tobe taken from one side of the fountain 2 and directed toward theopposite side of the fountain. The first mentioned side of the fountainis designated I and the second mentioned side of the fountain isdesignated II. It is to be borne in mind that another roll contacts thewater fountain roll 3 and takes water therefrom for water at the side IIof the fountain. At the same time the taking of water from the side Iand the delivery of less water to the side II causes circulation of thewater in the fountain. It is found that such circulation is in part asindicated by the arrows B in FIGURE 2, i.e., from the central part ofthe fountain at the side II longitudinally in both directions to theends of the fountain and thence toward the side I. But for the bafflemeans presently to be described the circulation would continue at theside I of the fountain from the ends toward the center thereof.

I provide baffle means in juxtaposition to the ends of the waterfountain roll 3 inhibiting complete circulation of water as justdescribed although permitting subsurface circulation of water from theside II to the side I of the fountain. I provide two bafiles which arealike although of opposite hand at the respective ends of the waterfountain roll 3. Description of one baffle will suflice for both. Thebaffle at the nearer end of the water fountain roll 3 viewing FIGURE 1is designated generally by reference numeral 6 and that at the moreremote end is designated generally by reference numeral 7. The battle 6is shown in FIGURE 3. It consists of a shape stamped out of sheetmaterial having a generally horizontal upper edge 8 interrupted at itscentral portion by an arcuate cut away portion 9 to insure that thebattle does not contact the shaft 5. At its bottom the baffle has feet10 resting on the bot tom of the fountain with a raised portion 11between the feet 10 providing for subsurface circulation of water pastthe battle. The baffle has a slot 12 extending upwardly from the bottomthereof adjacent the right hand and thereof viewing FIGURE 3, which slotis adapted to receive a portion of the fountain wall at the side I ofthe fountain whereby the battle is mounted on the fountain wall. Asealing member 13 is fastened to the baffle by any suitable fasteningmeans 14 at the face of the bafile nearer the roll and extends throughthe slot '12 whereby to seal the battle to the inner surface of the wallof the fountain at the side I thereof. The sealing member 13 is made ofresilient material such as rubber. In addition to ac complishing itsscaling function it also acts somewhat as a spring to urge the baffletoward the adjacent end of the water fountain roll 3. Each of thebaffles 6 and 7 is thus urged and lies against the flat end surface ofthe water fountain roll 3.

As the water fountain roll 3 turns in the direction of the arrow A anyink particles or other foreign matter which the water fountain roll mayreceive from the roll in contact therewith will normally be deposited onthe surface of the water at the side II of the fountain. The particlesfloat on the surface. The baffles inhibit surface circulation of Waterto the side I of the fountain in between the bafiies whereby theparticles are trapped on the surface of the water at the ends of thefountain adjacent the side I between the respective baffies and theadjacent end walls of the fountain in the areas indicated by the lettersC in FIGURE 2 where the particles may easily be skimmed off.

FIGURE 4 shows a modified construction in which the water fountain roll3' is covered with a fabric sleeve 15 whose ends are disposed at theends of the roll 3 as shown at one end of that roll at 16. A covermember 17 is applied to each end of the roll and is held in place firmlyagainst the fabric covered roll end by a collar 18 fastened to the shaft5' by a set screw 19. The baflle 6 cooperates with the cover member 17in the same manner as the bafi le 6 cooperates with the end surface ofthe water fountain roll 3, the control of circulation of the water inthe form of FIGURE 4 being the same as in the form of FIGURES 1, 2 and3.

My fountain structure not only traps the particles of ink and otherforeign matter on the surface of the water in the areas C as abovedescribed where they may easily be skimmed ofi but also results inmaintaining substantially uniform along the water fountain roll 3 thereduced but unavoidable emulsification of the water in the fountain withink carried back to the water fountain roll by the rolls cooperatingtherewith to deliver the Water to the water form roller or rollers. ThusI obtain an unprecedcntcdly uniform Water application While at the sametime providing for trapping and removing of particles of ink and otherforeign matter as above described.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodimentsof the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention isnot limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Fountain structure comprising a receptacle, a roll dipping intoliquid in the receptacle but partially disposed above the level of thesurface of the body of liquid in the receptacle and adapted to berotated in a predetermined direction whereby to take liquid from oneside of the receptacle and deliver it toward the opposite side of thereceptacle causing a tendency of the body of liquid in the receptacle tocirculate back from the second mentioned side of the receptacle to thefirst mentioned side of the receptacle and baffle means in juxtapositionto the ends of the roll inhibiting such circulation back past the endsof the roll at the surface of the body of liquid in the receptacle whilepermitting such circulation back past the ends of the roll substantiallybelow the surface of the body of liquid in the receptacle whereby totrap between the respective bathe means in juxtaposition to the ends ofthe roll and the respective adjacent ends of the receptacle particles offoreign matter floating on the surface of the body of liquid in thereceptacle.

2. Fountain structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the battle meansfit closely to the receptacle wall at the first mentioned side of thereceptacle and are spaced from the receptacle wall at the secondmentioned side of the receptacle.

3. Fountain structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the bafile meansextend above the level of the surface of the body of liquid in thereceptacle and at at least portions thereof are spaced from the bottomof the receptacle to allow subsurface circulation of liquid thereunder.

4. Fountain structures as claimed in claim 1 in which sealing means areprovided sealing the baffle means to the inner surface of the receptaclewall at the first mentioned side of the receptacle.

5. Fountain structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the bafile meansare provided with slots extending upwardly from the bottom thereofadjacent one end thereof adapted to receive a portion of the receptaclewall at the first mentioned side of the receptacle whereby the bafflemeans are mounted on the receptacle wall.

6. Fountain structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the baffle meansare provided with slots enabling them to be hung over the receptaclewall at the first mentioned side of the receptacle and resilientelements are attached to the bafiie means and extend through the slotsto seal the baffle means to the inner surface of the wall, the resilientelements also serving to urge the baffle means toward the roll.

7. Fountain structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the roll is coveredwith a fabric sleeve and the ends of the fabric sleeve at the ends ofthe roll are in turn covered with members which cooperate with thebaffle means similarly to the roll ends when the roll is not coveredwith a fabric sleeve.

8. Fountain structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the roll has shaftsat its ends and is covered with a fabric sleeve and the ends of thefabric sleeve at the ends of the roll are in turn covered with memberswhich cooperate with the baffle means similarly to the roll ends whenthe roll is not covered with a fabric sleeve, the shafts passing throughsaid members and means being provided for maintaining said members inplace firmly against the fabric covered roll ends.

No references cited.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noa3,00%417 November 21, 1961 August A. Saul It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected'below.

Column 1, lines 62 and 63 for "substantion" read substantially Signedand sealed this 17th da y of April 1962.

(SEAL) Attest: ESTON G, JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

